Starting a new team

Starting a team is fairly easy, but there are a few things to consider.

Schedule:

The schedule for 2007

Cost:

Product descriptions and costs are posted on the FLL website in April. The cost to participate ranges from $700 for new teams to $300 for returning teams. FIRSTWA provides a sample team budget.

One of the major purchases is a LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention kit. This kit provides a small programmable LEGO computer, and enough motors and parts to make a machine. If your team already has access to a kit, you can use that kit and not purchase a new one. Returning teams are able to reuse that initial investment each year.

Registration:

To participate in the program, all teams must register between May 1 - September 30 (*or until all slots are filled, whichever comes first). Registration is conducted on the national FLL website. Registration with FIRST Lego League gives teams access to robot kits, team manuals, team challenge playing field and the State Tournament.

Team Profile:

FLL teams can be part of a school classroom, after school program, extracurricular group, home school, neighborhood group, club or civic organization.

Team Size:

It is recommended that a team be comprised of no less than four students and at least one adult coach. The maximum is 10 child participants. There are several team member roles and responsibilities that provide a basis for creating and managing the team. These roles include building, documentation, marketing, programming, quality control, research, strategic analysis, and project management.

Coach:

Teachers, parents, and technology professionals are all excellent choices for the role of coach. The coach must be 18 years or older and should possess the following abilities: the desire to explore side-by-side with students, good communication skills, prioritizing skills, and multitasking skills. The coach's role is to facilitate instruction and optimize the learning experience of the team members by allowing independent thought. Direct adult involvement or intervention during the problem-solving process is strongly discouraged. Coaches handle all the operational details: where and when to meet, organizing help for snacks, team costumes, etc. Coaches do not need technical expertise but must be willing to acquire some basic knowledge of the programming environment and LEGO robot building. As leader of an FLL registered team, the coach will have access to robot kits, team challenge kits, software and building instructional manuals from FLL.

Mentors:

Mentors are high school students or adults who provide technical assistance and guidance to a team. Often a single person fills both the coach and mentor roles. Sometimes a single person coaches several teams while each team has their own mentor. Sometimes it is reversed. Mentors give FLL participants the opportunity to explore scientific principles and practices while working with a positive role model.

Time Commitment:

In general, two to three meetings per week with a minimum of 2 hours per meeting is adequate. An occasional Saturday or Sunday is often added for those teams preparing for a specific event.

Practice Space Requirements:

Teams need enough space to build and test the robot on the FLL playing field (contained in the FLL Challenge Kit). The playing field is a roll out 8' x 4' mat upon which LEGO pieces and various elements are arranged to create the Challenge missions. Additional materials (such as two-by-fours) must be purchased separately to build a border around the playing field. Setup can be as simple as clearing an area on the floor, or your team may opt to build an official FLL table. Some teams have found it advantageous to share a playing field with other teams in their area.

Computer Requirements:

Team must have access to either a Mac or a PC with an Internet connection. Internet access and a valid email address are mandatory to maintain contact with FLL throughout the Challenge season. The computer is used to develop programs for the team's robot. Programs are easily downloaded to the RCX (LEGO programmable brick) via an infrared transmitter.

If your team attends a local event or state tournament, you will need an on-site computer for the day of the competition. Robot programs are often modified to accommodate the specific conditions of the tournament setting and to improve robot performance.

Estimated Budget

There are a variety of fixed and variable costs associated with new or returning teams. Returning teams often reuse their robotic kit from the previous year. Also returning teams have already built a playing table. Finally, if there are more than one team at a location, the playing field can be shared, further reducing costs

FIRST LEGO League Estimated Team Budget 2007

1. FLL and State tournament registration fee’s are on a per-team basis.
2. Challenge kit contains playing surface + special parts to make the playing field. This can be shared among teams if you sponsor more than one team. The playing field can be set up on the floor or a large banquet type table.
3. Teams may use an existing LEGO Mindstorms kit or DACTA Robolab Team Challenge kit with the addition of an extra motor ($15), light sensor ($15) and rotation sensor ($17).
4. S/H from FLL seems to be from $14-$16 regardless of the amount of kits shipped.